Russia announced a ceasefire on Saturday to allow civilians to be evacuated from two cities in eastern Ukraine, one of which is the besieged strategic port of Mariupol, after consultations between Kyiv and Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that “the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," starting today, March 5, at 07:00 GMT.